The San Roque Power Foundation, Inc. (SRPFI), which was nominated by the Philippine government via the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gained another milestone as a recipient of the coveted “ASEAN Outstanding Social Welfare and Development Award (AOSWADA)” during the 2^nd AOSWADA Ceremony held on 24 May 2023 via videoconference.

The AOSWADA is an initiative by ASEAN which provides recognition to one non-government organization or civil society organization (NGO/CSO) and one private company for each ASEAN member state which have demonstrated significant and outstanding contributions to the society in terms of social welfare and development (Source: ASEAN, 2023). The SRPFI, however, is the lone awardee from the Philippines.

The SRPFI is being recognized for its community development initiatives highlighted by its three key interventions namely: (1) Project RANG-AY (Resources Access to Nurture Growth and Accelerate Development in the Community), (2) Reading, Mathematics, and Science Proficiency Program; and (3) Grow-a-Tree for the San Roque Watershed. Impacts of the said initiatives include (1) a remarkable 689% leap in average household income (from Php 5,000 in 2009 to Php 39,498 in 2022) which is significantly higher than the Philippines’ poverty threshold Php 12,030; (2) helped improve the National Achievement Test (NAT) rating of public school elementary pupils in SRMP communities by 15% (from 57.55% to 72.17% (as of 2015); and enhanced flora diversity within the San Roque Watershed by 292% (from 25 tree species in 2011 to 98 species in 2022) respectively. In addition, the Grow-a-Tree Project has sequestered 10,457.56 metric ton (MT) of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as of 2022 equivalent to 871.46 MT CO₂ annually that renders the Foundation and its parent organization, the San Roque Power Corporation, as carbon-negative organizations.

Prior to this, the SRPFI received the DSWD-Regional Field Office I’s PaNata Ko (Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon) sa Bayan-Salamat Po Award for 2022 under the Best NGO Category during their 72^nd Anniversary Celebration held at Hotel Ariana in Bauang, La Union on 09 March 2023. It was deemed a Hall of Famer having received the same award for three years (2019, 2020, and 2022). Topping this achievement, the SRPFI also received the national recognition of the same award of 2021 given at the Malasakit Building, DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on 28 February 2022.